Raizes

Nice place, great service but the food it’s a little bland for my taste. Had the steak sandwich & the hubby had the whole fish both were tasteless More Spanish seasoning please!!!

Beware of food poisoning!!!
I went there the first time in the summer. The service was decent at the time (we were being served by one of the head managers working) but the food was absolutely disappointing. I ordered the fish tacos and they came out extremely soggy because they were thrown on the plate and I couldn’t even pick them up because they were so wet they were falling apart. My boyfriend order the quesadilla. Same thing– came out really soggy. We did not finish the meal but remained kind since I knew they were trying. I work in service too so I know how people can be.
After some time, thinking maybe they have improved their menu or cooking, we return since it’s extremely close to our house, the only thing open, and I was starving. The guy who started seating us and wrote down our order was nice, but weren’t even sure if he was actually our server or not since we had three different people at our table throughout the course of the meal. After some time sitting down/​ordering we noticed that one of the workers there was sick. His nose was extremely red and he was coughing. He was also doing this while polishing the silverware for the entire restaurant. BIG MISTAKE! I didn’t want them to screw up my food or be rude and ask for another pair because they would most likely just give me more of the contaminated silverware. I was just going to try eating with my hands. Again, I ordered the fish tacos (I’m a pescetarian so there is not a ton I can choose from there) hoping they would be better. I told them I didn’t want cilantro on the tacos and he looked confused and told me I should order something completely different. So I repeated myself and said that I wanted the tacos. I added some other items to them as well, he repeated the order back to me so I assumed it would come out correctly. It didn’t. They didn’t add my extras and I also asked for some items after I received them only got half. I even heard the server ask the other guy for the items. He dropped off one but then completely walked away. ??? The taco presentation wasn’t too bad. They come with metal separators now so the juice from the grill may run off of them. They did taste extremely fishing though, a strange perishing fishy, and the fish looked discolored. I noticed this after a few bites. The fish was NOT fresh!!! And also forgetting to not use my silverware, I accidentally used it. Big mistake. I didn’t finish the meal. We asked for the check and it got dropped off, but then not picked up at edge of the table for what felt like 20 minutes. The two other men walked by, looked at it, and kept walking. We also sat there forever without waters extremely thirsty and no one refilled us. All of this time too they were NOT even BUSY!!! Finally the server came back and ran it.
So after this crappy retry I got EXTREMELY sick! This is very embarrassing but I don’t think I have spent so much time in the bathroom, not to mention bleeding in the bathroom out of my bum. I got a fever as well!
So all in all, stay away because of people’s carelessness to not send their noticeably sick staff home and also lack in customer service/​food prep that causes food poisoning. It’ll also save you money on expensive doctors bills. There are plenty of places that serve more delicious tacos for less that won’t make you ill.

This is a beautiful space, Huge and looks great.
We showed up late on evening about 8 or 9 pm and it was pretty quiet.
Ordered a bunch of different dishes to share between the 4 of us.
Char-​Grilled Whole Sardines — were good and different, I haven’t seen a dish like that served anywhere
Grilled Octopus — This was very good once we squeeze some lemon on them.
Mini Rodizio — all the meat was cooked too much, was tough, otherwise it was decent meat.
Server was decent though it seemed to change a few times throughout the meal.
I’d go again and order some different things.

Last night attended a Christmas party here, what a great venue for a party, part of the restaurant was closed off for the party of around 50+ guests. Liquor was flowing and unlimited drinks galore, the beauty was the bar tenders didn’t water down the drinks, these were all made with a heavy pour. The surroundings was very festive and the seafood, beef, lamb, and appetizers all were very good. There was even a live band playing in the other end of the restaurant and they sounded great. All around great party, great drinks, good food, and great company what more could you ask for.

I have had brunch and dinner here and both were equally delicious. The owner welded everything from the bar to the light fixtures. The attention to detail is reflected in the craftsmanship of the welding and the culinary expertise in the kitchen!

I love this place! I came on a Tuesday when they have $ 20 Rodizio and $ 20 bottles of wine.
The Rodizio was delicious. They had lamb, chicken, beef, pork (it was amazing & I NEVER eat pork, I thought it was turkey!)
Service was excellent, and the restaurant was empty. At the end of our dinner we had A Bananas Foster, that was amazing. And it was on the house! I’ll definitely come back!

This restaurant is incredible! I don’t usually leave Manhattan for food but Raizes was well worth the trip and I will definitely be back here again. The service is top notch. Our food was out very quickly and we were constantly attended to by not only our own waiter, but pretty much every person on staff. This is an amazing restaurant that I can’t wait to tell all my friends about. Great food, great people, great prices. A+!

Usually pretty good– but had a really bad experience this past weekend. They asked us to sit at a table directly in front of the band– like two feet away– which made no sense. Food was ok. I had fishy tacos, they were 2.5 stars. Brussels sprouts had a weird smell. I love Brussels sprints but this was an extra strange smell.
The all you can eat is confusing– they had a giant private party granted– but they stopped serving my buddies after a few rounds. It wasn’t a situation where we could have been like… alright their busy and we’ve really had enough so we don’t mind that they’ve stopped serving us. It was after maybe 15 – 20 minutes and like 4 different meats. I’m pretty sure there is supposed to be 7 or 8. Either way– I’ve been a server before, I get how it is when you have a giant party. But this was no good.
We barely saw our server or if we did– he was serving someone else. Again, no biggie– but come check on us at some point please. We’re also paying guests and we were hoping for an at least somewhat nice evening as well.
Overall– the beer was good– but I don’t have much else to say. I think one of my friends really liked her Cuban sandwich.
Don’t know if I’ll be able to convince any of my buddies to ever go back– which is unfortunate because it’s the only bar on my block. Oh well.

Went with my girlfriend once when it was empty and got the all you can eat entrée, it was good. Came here for my birthday and they had a private party which apparently means I didn’t matter. It took over 20 minutes to get our waiter to take our order and over thirty for the waiter to get the check, who was also a different waiter than the first.
That doesn’t warrant the one star however. What does is the fact that, once again, I ordered the all you can eat entrée, and they stopped serving me food after fifteen minutes! I paid $ 28 for six pieces of meat and sides, absolutely unacceptable. After waiting 45 minutes for more food, or even our waiter to show up, he came back with a check and left… which then took us another thirty minutes to pay. Absolutely horrible service. Will never go back.

Love the Ambiance & the Décor and that’s what caught my attention 1^st & 2^nd was the fact that they’re a Portuguese restaurant (Seafood Heaven for me)!
I got the Grilled Octopus on a bed of crappy lettuce greens next time I know to ask for the Mixed greens but Hey now… the Octopus was awesome, grilled & seasoned perfectly and sized right and portioned fairly.
My friend ordered the Same Salad as noted above with the addition of Grilled Shrimps and again they share my sentiment, great salad just remember to request a better bed of salad Greens.
I also ordered the NY Strip Steak with smothered Mushroom Gravy and Fresh as hell Sauteed Kale Greens with Garlic (Greed) I couldn’t finish this so I took this home for later but a delicious dish sans the mushroom gravy I would ask that they hold on this for future I like mushrooms and gravy but not on my NY Strip Steak.
Nice Friday night chill out spot with Live band music, comfortable dining and dim lighting that easily accommodates a casual or romantic dining experience.
*** Noteworthy ***
We were trying to be sexy and chose an open window seating station and this was a mistake considering the window is open to a main NYC street with cars, buses, horns and ambulance cars whizzing by constantly; the noise level was distracting some what.
Consider a seat that isn’t near an open window if your looking to enjoy a little peace n quiet with your company.

I came here looking for some good food, a nice atmosphere, and a place to watch the game. This place had all of the above, as well as great service and a friendly wait staff.
I had a huge cuban sandwich and fries for just $ 12, for a sit-​down restaurant, it’s pretty fairly priced. The only thing I would say isn’t fairly priced is the beer, but I wasn’t going to eat a cuban sandwich and watch the game without drinking a beer. (I had a stella for $ 6)
Overall I would definitely come back to try some of the other things on the menu, or if I just wanted to enjoy a beer in a nice looking bar during the game.

My husband and I came here for dinner on a Friday around ⁷³⁰⁄₈ and the place was not full, I’ve fact we were able to get a seat by the window. To drink my husband went with a pilsner and I ordered a cocktail (I don’t remember the name but out included chili infused tequila which I really enjoyed). I ordered the fish tacos and half a dozen oysters. Mini rodizio which was just enough food for him and offered a little of everything which was also well seasoned. We left when the live music was just getting started. It’s a lie key date night spot.

We were in NYC for a combination vacation and assist to help my daughter move from one area to another. Along the way we added three of her friends to our numbers, and it came time to select a place for dinner. I had a urge for meat, and after zipping through most of the high-​rated (and priced) steakhouses on the island, we decided to try a place called Raizes, in the Greenpoint section of Brooklyn. Taking separate taxis, we arrived just before our reservation, to find that the kids not only beat us there, but had cracked a bottle of red wine, suggested by the waiter.
The décor is on the dark side, with many nods to the navigational heritage of the Portuguese owners, including ship’s hull ribs adorning the ceiling.
Raizes has several interesting menu options, but they highlight their Rodizio — a style of service where you are presented with an almost never-​ending procession of skewered meats, with the idea that you eat until you can eat no longer. Four of us opted for this choice, while one had a chicken breast stuffed with mushrooms, tomato and kale — looked fabulous — and the other selected a Portuguese fish-​pot called Mariscos Na Cataplana, which uttered an unbelievable aroma as the pot was opened at tableside.
My daughter and i shared a half-​dozen Bluepoint oysters on the halfshell, which were as fresh a could possibly be. After an average tossed salad, the show began. Among the choices were marinated chicken drumsticks, pork loin, bacon-​wrapped pork, marinated steak, broiled top round, lamb, and chorizo sausage. To be honest, the pork loin was on the dry side, as was the chorizo, but everything else was cooked quite well, and came blistering hot, since the grill was in the same room. The lamb, broiled top round and bacon-​wrapped pork was especially memorable.
Our sides were black beans, sauteed kale, rice, and mashed potatoes. All were acceptable.
We appeared to be the first group to come in and order rodizio, so they turned on the spit for us. It looked as if most of the other patrons were either watching soccer in their lounge, or ordering smaller items. I chalked this up to them being neighborhood regulars. Our waiter volunteered the fact that on holiday weekends, they don’t usually have as big a crowd. By the time we had had our fill, we noticed a few other parties enjoying the rodizio.
Too full for dessert, we asked that our bill be split in 4 ways, and our waiter was happy to comply. We left feeling happy, appreciated, and stuffed.
Raizes rates four stars… three for the food, which while there was an issue or two, was solid, and five for the impeccable, professional and friendly service, that made us feel like we were part of their family. Obrigado!

No good. Just no good, dude.
I went there with a craving for steak, and some other meats, crammed onto a sword and sliced onto my plate like I was an extra in a Game of Thrones feast scene. I got my wish, but with the same level of forgery you’d expect on the show.
The service was okay. Attentive but not overly so; you’d never feel like royalty here. The general atmosphere was such that you seem to be a traveler within the galley of a large ship, but not as any kind of guest of honor. In fact, the fellow patrons seem to have traveled great distances for the chance to be served gross food.
Which brings me to the food itself. It was bad. Either overly salted, or downright stale. Perhaps this is in keeping with the boat theme. Hard tack & gruel? The steak could’ve been quite good, if it didn’t insta-​dry my mouth.
Also, I know I got the «all you can eat» dish and that generally means no sharing, but I felt like they were studying my every move as I tried to sneak a bite or two to my beautiful girlfriend during the 2 hour meal. This made for a nerve-​wracking experience.
I won’t be back anytime soon but I really want this place to succeed for some reason. Figure it out Raizes!! s

A very pleasant surprise
Gorgeous décor
Love the floors and plank tables
Full bar although I have not had cocktails there yet so I cannot comment on the prices
The service is attentive
The variety on the menu is impressive
Empanadas, quesadillas, seafood
Steaks, fresh fish etc
Rodizio
I have had the skirt steak and the NY strip
Both beautiful cuts of meat cooked very nicely although I would have liked some extra seasoning
As I opted for the chimichurri on the side
Prices especially for lunch are very reasonable for the quality and quantity
Add it to your list

First thing:
The interior is great, very spacious and original. The staff is pleasant and helpful.
Now the food:
I’ve been there few times and I have tried Rodizio, Steak, fish, crap cakes and alcoholic beverages and it was all amazing. I like BBQ in general and Portugese style BBQ is great. However, the wait time is a buzz kill. At one time we ended up waiting for the food almost an hour.
Overall, I recommend the place.

I feel like I should review this place twice. Once for service, once for food.
Service– great, 5 stars… Unfortunately that’s not what we are doing here, we are eating and the food was not good.
The sangria and drinks– amazing! French fries, tasty! Everything else… not great. We ordered a cross the board so we could try different things, sadly disappointed.
Love the ambience here will come back for the sangria, but hope the ownership can get the kitchen up to the level of the service staff.

Some of the best grilled chicken legs I have ever had. Falling off the bone, juicy, perfectly seasoned.
I got the Rodizio, traditionally served in all you can eat fashion. I ate a LOT. The sides that is came with were plentiful and the salad was good. Wine was a little pricey but it was good as well.
I would definitely come back, particularly with a group of friends. I would like to try one of their larger cuts of meat — if the Rodizio was any indication I am sure it would be fantastic.

Went for an early dinner (around 6) and it was delightfully unpacked and festively decorated for the holidays. Got the Rodizio Portuguese Style, a fantastic selection of meets brought out on skewers, that came with a salad, olives + bread, rice, beans, and either mashed potatoes or fries. The meat was delicious – particularly the chicken and the prime rib. All in all, perfect for a date or a larger group of people.

I really, really, really wanted to love this place. Considering my family is Portuguese, having access to Portuguese cuisine blocks from my home is awesome, but the experience really feel short on what I was expecting.
The restaurant itself is beautifully designed with lots of wood and interesting metal bar stools. The back is a little too dark for my liking as its difficult to read the menus and see your food. In the daytime, the windows lend plenty of light so this isn’t an issue. I’m also not the biggest fan of the open windows considering it’s on the corner of a super busy intersection, so the noise and air pollution didn’t exactly lend itself to a romantic, calm meal. However, this isn’t something that can be fixed.
It was rather quiet on a Saturday night at around 8pm. My family and I were greeted warmly and seated without issue in the back. The owner, a very friendly woman, spoke Portuguese to my mother (who is fluent) and asked a Portuguese waiter to take care of us. I really liked the whole «family» vibe that the staff exuded. I was extremely hopeful for the meal, but overall the meal doesn’t warrant the hefty price-​tag.
The Sagres on draft was nice, although $ 7 for about 12oz isn’t worth it. If they had a happy hour that included this beer, I would come to watch some soccer and pretend I was back in Portugal. They had a nice wine list — so maybe this is the way to go.
My husband and I shared their version of caldo verde (which is a traditional Portuguese soup with greens and linguisa). They did warn us it wasn’t like the caldo verde we’re used to, but it was a delicious soup. It was a large bowl for $ 6, large enough to be filling for one person with some bread. A great lunch option. This was probably my favorite part of the meal.
My nephew, 19 months old, enjoyed the kids meal (ask for it, they don’t have a menu yet) of chicken tenders and french fries. It was $ 10 — so not exactly kid menu prices, but it was a huge portion and very good. They have great fresh cut french fries, definitely the only side worth getting. They needed a dipping sauce for this dish though.
So for the meal we ordered:
Grilled cod fish — this is a tricky dish and it was an epic fail. It was TOO salty and inedible. It needed to be soaked for longer. If you get this dish and its too salty, you must send it back. It happens with center cut cod fish, but its never fun to experience. They were very nice and brought my mother grilled sardines with a salad instead. She enjoyed this a lot.
Surf & Turk — my father ordered this special, $ 29, that includes a sirloin and 3 stuffed shrimp and two sides. The steak was perfectly cooked and he liked the shrimp. He didn’t think it was worth $ 29, but he still enjoyed it. His fried potatoes were under cooked and were replaced with better ones halfway through the meal.
Grilled Half Chicken — we thought this was going to be traditional «frango no churrasco», one of the most popular Portuguese dishes. It was just a plain ol’ grilled chicken. Honestly, frango no churrasco is fabulous and easy to make — why aren’t they doing this if this is a Portuguese restaurant?! The dish was $ 16 and tasty. although its one of the most affordable dish on the menu, it’s just roasted chicken. The fries are good with this dish, but the kale is just okay.
Octopus and Kale Salad — my sister enjoyed this and it was a large portion. She said some of the octopus was a little tough, but still tasty. It’s a hearty salad for anyone wanting a healthy dish.
Broiled Seafood Platter — although this isn’t a traditional Portuguese dish, I figured the seafood would be good since as half their menu was dedicated to their New England theme (strange). I feel like Raizes is having an identify crisis. Anyhoo, my dish was really disappointing. To put is simply, the meal was BLAND. Where is the salt, the spices? It tasted like nothing. The broiled filet of sole has zero flavor. No amount of lemon could fix it. The scallops and shrimp were perfectly cooked, but also bland as hell. It was so boring to eat but I ate it cause I was hungry and it was expensive. The mashed potatoes were also incredible bland, no butter or salt. The steamed veggies were bland too. There was no salt or pepper on the tables so I suffered through my meal, mostly eating everyone else’s food. Maybe the fried dish is better?
The desserts were tasty. The banana bread pudding was awesome and the flourless chocolate cake was okay. Not the best, but still chocolaty and good.
So Raizes — if you want to make it in this neighborhood, you have to bring down your prices and added some flavor to your dishes. I just don’t think people are going to pay between $ 20 and $ 30 for food that is just subpar. I want to love you guys, but things need to change. I’m not the only one with these thoughts, based on previous reviews.